Arrest made in Mafia case linked to Scott Rothstein

Debra Villegas, Scott Rothstein's former right-hand woman, was featured on NBC's "Dateline."

Debra Villegas, Scott Rothstein's former right-hand woman, was featured on NBC's "Dateline."

CAPTION

Debra Villegas, Scott Rothstein's former right-hand woman, was featured on NBC's "Dateline."

Debra Villegas, Scott Rothstein's former right-hand woman, was featured on NBC's "Dateline."

CAPTION

Frank Prevé who admitted he fed more than $20 million to Scott Rothstein's massive Ponzi scheme had his prison term reduced last week at the request of prosecutors.

Frank Prevé who admitted he fed more than $20 million to Scott Rothstein's massive Ponzi scheme had his prison term reduced last week at the request of prosecutors.

CAPTION

The ex-wife of Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein was granted her request to cut the final eight months off her two-year probation term.

The ex-wife of Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein was granted her request to cut the final eight months off her two-year probation term.

CAPTION

The team of federal prosecutors that investigated Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein recently received a distinguished service award for their work on the complex case.

The team of federal prosecutors that investigated Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein recently received a distinguished service award for their work on the complex case.

CAPTION

Benjamin wasn't represented at the forfeiture proceeding. He has 60 days to respond to board's decision, and he can appeal the decision in the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Benjamin wasn't represented at the forfeiture proceeding. He has 60 days to respond to board's decision, and he can appeal the decision in the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Jon Burstein, Sun Sentinel

Federal authorities have arrested the co-owner of a Pembroke Pines-based security firm on charges he conspired with a suspected Italian Mafia figure to launder money and obstruct justice, court records showed Wednesday.

Enrique Ros, who runs Five Star Executive Protection and Investigation, voluntarily surrendered to FBI agents Tuesday after getting off a plane at Miami International Airport. The arrest came six days after federal prosecutors unsealed a nine-count indictment against him, his business partner Daniel Dromerhauser and Roberto Settineri, who is thought to have acted as a key intermediary between a crime family in Sicily and the Gambino crime family in New York City.

The three were ensnared in a November 2009 sting set in motion when Fort Lauderdale fraudster Scott Rothstein began cooperating with federal authorities investigating his $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, according to news reports. Rothstein, who knew the men, pretended he needed help destroying documents and laundering $79,000, the news reports state.

For at least several years, Settineri had been on the radar of both the FBI and Italian National Police, a target of an investigation code-named "Paisan Blues."

Settineri was attempting to open up new opportunities in the United States for the Santa Maria di Gesu crime family, authorities said.

Last Wednesday, FBI SWAT teams arrested Settineri, 41, of Miami Beach, and Dromerhauser, 39, of Miami. In addition, the Italian National Police rounded up 20 people in Palermo suspected of committing crimes for the Sicilian crime syndicate. New York federal authorities also arrested a reputed Gambino soldier and his two sons.

Ros, 33, of Pembroke Pines, had been out of the country when the arrests were made. After learning about the indictment, he contacted federal authorities and let them know when he would be arriving back home, said David Raben, his attorney.

In a brief Wednesday court hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenbaum set two bonds for Ros totaling $225,000.

Raben said Wednesday afternoon he expected Ros to bond out of federal custody in a matter of hours and go back to work.